Suburban: Change tailgate to swing out doors?

[pontiac59]

I picked up an '89 Suburban at an auction last week with 57,000 original miles.  It was a school bus until 2001 or 2002, sold surplus to someone who planned to use the motor out of it but decided to clean out the barn instead before getting to it.  I've noted one major problem with the body - in addition to the tailgate being semi-functional (meaning: if I play with it for an hour I might get it open), I don't really want to open it as it will fall off...  the end of the floorpan and the bracing that the hinges were mounted to, is completely rusted away.  Surprisingly, the rest of the floors are in good shape, although it could stand rockers, wheel arches and some other metal work.

Anyhow, either way the rear gate needs to be replaced.  I thought it might be easier to install and make it more functional as a work truck if I put the swing out style doors on it.   Does anyone know what's involved on this - did they put provisions for installing either one into all Suburban bodies, and I just have to take the gate/trim/hardware off and bolt in the hinges, or will I need to cut the hinge mounts out of a donor truck and weld them on?

The gate is latched, but thats all that keeps it on the truck - the bottom is slightly ajar, which presents a potential for exhaust gas entry.  Probably the reason the school district auctioned it as surplus to begin with.  So this is something I want to fix, if I can.  Outside of the rust issues, the truck is in pretty good shape - it runs down the road great and gets darn good gas milage for a 4500-lb truck (about twice what my same-year Dodge Ramcharger gets, which is a lighter truck with about the same size motor and the same type fuel injection!).

Thanks in advance for the help - my first post on this board, so if there's anything special I should be aware of please let me know.

[Blazin]

Welcome pontiac59. I have never researched it but being a body man and knowing how bodies are built at the factory my opinion (which could be wrong) is that the provisions probably are not there for the barn door hinges. My reason for thinking this is where the hinges are located are two separate parts before the body is completed and need much stronger reinforcement than if no hinges would be located at that point. Maybe go to a local dealers parts counter and ask to look at an exploded view of your rig for crash panel replacement. If they ask what type of doors you have and list two part numbers chances are the hinge plates ar not there.

[roundedline]

The provision to switch from Barn to Gate was eliminated sometime around 1980.  My 1978 Burb had a Gate setup and had all the holes in the body for the Barn doors.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
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Jimmy 2WD Project